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- Who can benefit from acupuncture?
Most people can benefit from acupuncture. Many use acupuncture to relax and alleviate the stress of life. Others use it to treat conditions they have lived with for years, or acute conditions that come up. Many people find that they have at least one friend who has had acupuncture and can share a story about their experience.
- How does acupuncture work?
Studies show that acupuncture triggers the release of chemicals that control pain. It also appears to affect blood flow, though scientists do not know why. Inserting acupuncture needles shallowly in the skin also stimulates the hypothalamus and pituitary gland in the brain to secrete hormones. And acupuncture seems to increase the release of neurotransmitters, though the reason is not clear. The effects of such hormones and neurotransmitters include increased relaxation and reduced swelling.
It appears to improve hormonal balance and to reduce inappropriate inflammatory responses in the body. It also appears to improve digestive function, which helps the body to assimilate necessary nutrients. It seems to have an influence on the nervous system, and recent studies using MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) show an immediate change in brain activity in patients receiving acupuncture.
More research will have to be done to explain how acupuncture works in western medical terms. Some good books about acupuncture are Between Heaven and Earth by Harriet Beinfield, Efrem Korngold and The Web That Has No Weaver by Ted J. Kaptchuk. The Way of Chinese Herbs by Michael Tierra is a introduction to Chinese herbology.
- Why Choose Oriental Medicine / Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)?
Oriental Medicine / Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is effective for a wide range of disorders and works preventatively as well. People choose to use Oriental Medicine / Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for many reasons, such as:
pain cessation or management
improved healing of damaged tissue
psycho-emotional issues of stress, anxiety, depression, and panic attacks
addictions and detoxifying
fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue
headaches and migraines
allergies and immune disorders
gynecological disorders
gastrointestinal dysfunction
cardiopulmonary dysfunction
alleviating discomfort during cancer treatments
restoring neurological functions after strokes and accidents
and many other chronic problems.
Oriental Medicine / Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is used as an adjunct to other treatments or as stand-alone therapy. Many people use Oriental Medicine / Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) to help maintain harmony and balance for general health and well-being.
- Are treatments covered by insurance?
Insurance coverage is dependent upon the insurance policy and extent of coverage. Many policies do cover acupuncture, especially for disorders of pain. Many policies will cover the costs of the office visit and other types of therapies such as electrical stimulation, acupressure, and application of heat. Some policies require a referral from a primary care physician for the treatments to be covered and may have annual limits.
- Who can perform acupuncture in Texas?
In order to perform acupuncture, a practitioner must be licensed by the State of Texas, according to the following:
Licensed Acupuncturists have a long list of qualifications to meet, including: a minimum of 60 semester hours of basic college courses; a Master's of Science degree in Oriental Medicine at an accredited school including a minimum of 1800 didactic hours in acupuncture, oriental internal medicine, western medicine, of which 450 hours must be in Chinese herbology; a minimum of two terms of resident course of instruction (internship); passage of the National Board Examinations in Acupuncture, Chinese Herbology, Clean Needle Technique, and Point Location; and are licensed through the Texas State Board of Acupuncture Examiners under the Texas State Board of Medical Examiners.
Licensed Medical Doctors need no formal training in acupuncture or Oriental Medicine to perform acupuncture and are licensed by the Texas State Board of Medical Examiners.
Licensed Chiropractors need a minimum of 120 hours of continued education credits every two years in general acupuncture in order to perform acupuncture and are licensed by the Texas State Board of Chiropractic Examiners.
Licensed Acu-Detox Specialists are licensed by the Texas State Board of Medical Examiners. The acupuncture they may administer is limited to five specific points in the ear and is specific for the treatment of substance addictions. Qualifications for this limited license include a 70-hour training by NADA (National Acu-Detox Association), and the applicant must also be licensed as nurse, chemical dependency counselor, psychologist, professional counselor or certified social worker. An acupuncturist or physician must supervise Acu-Detox Specialists.
- What is cupping?
Cupping is another type of treatment. This is a method of stimulating acupuncture points by applying suction through a metal, wood or glass jar, in which a partial vacuum has been created. This technique produces blood congestion at the site, and therefore stimulates it. Cupping is used for low backache, sprains, soft tissue injuries, and helping relieve fluid from the lungs in chronic bronchitis.
- What is ear acupuncture?
Ear acupuncture, also known as auricular therapy, is based on the principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Auricular therapy is widely used for many conditions, including addiction treatment, mood disorders, obesity, pain, and other conditions. This medical system emphasizes a holistic approach to medicine, an approach that treats the whole person. The acupuncture points found on the ear help to regulate the body's internal organs, structures, and functions.
Auricular therapy has a long history of use in China. It was mentioned in the most famous of ancient Chinese medical textbooks, "The Yellow Emperor's Classic of Internal Medicine." In modern times, auricular therapy has been shown to stimulate the release of endorphins, the body's own feel-good chemicals.
Ear acupuncture is generally incorporated into a regular acupuncture treatment. In addition to using acupuncture points on the rest of the body, your acupuncturist may select a few ear acupuncture points that they feel will be helpful for your particular condition.
Ear acupuncture points may be stimulated for a longer period of time by using ear seeds or ear tacks. Ear seeds are small seeds from the Vaccaria plant. These seeds are held in place on the ear with a small piece of adhesive tape. Ear seeds may be left in the ear for a few days or up to two weeks. Ear tacks are very small needles with an adhesive backing. Ear tacks are inserted into the ear and left in the ear for a few days or up to one week.
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